Noah Lennox, better known by his stage name “Panda Bear,” is 36 years old. In those 36 years, Lennox has given the world his contribution to the Maryland alt-psych group Animal Collective as well as released a handful of solo albums. With his newest solo endeavor, “Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper,” Lennox’s age is starting to bleed into his work.
With the album’s title alone, Lennox appears to be experiencing something of a “quarter-life crisis.” Though still a very young man, Lennox is considerably older for a performing artist who still works to put out contemporary alternative music.
The first single off of “Grim Reaper” is titled “Mr Noah.” Without a doubt, this track is the most instantly gratifying song. It plays like a well structured alt-pop song with a grooving beat and a hook that moves lyric by lyric that gives all other earworms a run for their money. In typical Panda Bear fashion, Lennox’s lyrics are nearly indistinguishable when mixed in with the layers of sound that so often fill his songs.
The song “Crosswords,” though not a single, is one track that should be addressed when listening to “Grim Reaper.” A multi-rhythmic beat and bouncing synth lines make up the backbone of this song that comes off sounding less like Panda Bear and more a Toto song in the hands of Animal Collective.
“Boys Latin” was released as the album’s second single. In this song, Lennox builds a chorus using his own voice. Lennox layers his sounds multiple times, creating harmonies with consistent arpeggio throughout the song.
As a whole, “Grim Reaper” is a solid compilation of what has clearly been hard work on Lennox’s part. Though they both clock in under a minute, the songs “Davy Jones’ Locker” and “Shadow of the Colossus” are brief instrumentals with dark, sinister tones from the mind of Panda Bear.
Just by reading the track names, it seems Lennox’s theme of aging moves through the entirety of “Grim Reaper.” With titles like “Butcher Baker Candlestick Maker” and “Lonely Wanderer,” Lennox is cutting a wide swath across a lifetime of experiences. From childhood to life as a young adult, “Grim Reaper” shows both Lennox’s hopes and fears for what’s to come.